MEP Victor Negrescu advocated in the plenary of the European Parliament for the establishment of a European platform dedicated to mental health in the workplace, in the context of data showing that over 50% of European employees and 65% of Romanian employees face psychosocial risks at work on a daily basis.
”Mental health at work can no longer be treated as a secondary issue. Half of Europe’s workers face psychosocial risks, from overwork and insecurity to lack of support in the face of work-related stress, and the effects are felt directly in the workplace: exhaustion, anxiety, decreased productivity, but above all people feeling invisible and alone”, warned Victor Negrescu during the European Mental Health Week.
The proposed platform would support ”the exchange of best practices, provide concrete support to SMEs and turn mental health policies into accessible and enforceable measures”.
The MEP called for ”coordinated strategies, dedicated funding and better integration between health, work and social inclusion policies”.
”Mental health is a right, a priority, but also a shared responsibility. This is the Europe I believe in. A Europe that protects people, including in the workplace”, said Victor Negrescu.
One in two citizens who experienced a mental health problem did not seek professional help.
Already before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 6 EU citizens suffered from mental health problems. A report by the European Commission estimates that mental health issues cost the European economy over €600 billion annually – more than 4% of the EU’s GDP.
To tackle these pressing socio-economic challenges, Victor Negrescu, the European Parliament’s chief negotiator for the 2025 EU budget, successfully secured tens of millions of euros in additional funding for mental health, including psychological support, accessible counseling, and preventive measures.
